Modern Vespa

I haven't been on the Vespa for 2 weeks and it has been out in the cold but covered with one of those nylon covers. Anyway, tried to start it today and it wouldn't go. It ticked over and tried to start, but wouldn't kick in. Lights etc still work ok, oil level fine. Has the cold and lack of use just held it up? What should I do? Should I try to start it whilst it is moving on a downhill slope? Do I need a jump?

WHAT DO I DOOOOOOO?

Sounds like your battery is flat from the cold and not being used. Since the lights are working, you have enough juice to run the ignition. Why not use the kick starter? Another option is to put the battery on a charger to get it back to full strength.

<EDIT> I just read your description again. Is the motor cranking over but not starting? If it cranks over but isn't starting, then your battery may be fine and you should ignore my first suggestion. Perhaps a problem with the carburetor heater or fuel supply.

-Craig

What sort of charger would I need for a 125cc ET4? They all seem to come in different voltages

Also after trying to start it if I kept my finger on the starter and the grip the motor sounded like it was spinning.

I will try starting it again tomorrow. Should I stick in a sunny spot should the clouds part? Would that help?

I need more advice

it sounds like your battery has gone t*ts up. the cold will sometimes kill a battery, especially if it's an oldish one. get yourself to scootech or similar scooter shop and get a new 12V battery. they cost about £20. leaving it in the sun won't help. the pre-leader ET4 doesn't have a carb heater.

I bet you are low on gas. An empty tank holds a lot of air with whatever is the usual level of moisture. I'm betting that is a lot in London. Two weeks of cold can make it condense and then of course the water droplets work their way down.

You'l have to roll it or kickstart it until some good fuel gets to where it needs to be. Fill it first with high octane petrel.

Lemme know if this helps. I'm surprised I beat our Canadian colleagues to this one. I learned it in northern New York.

Cheers!
George M.

It's a sad battery. Buy an Optimate 4 and revive it - and consider getting a new battery if this one has lasted more than 2-3 years already.
yes, you can jump-start it if that is a readily available option, but that won't get the battery up to full decent condition without a LONG ride.

Pray tell... what good will rolling it do? This is a modern Vespa with a CVT transmission and centrifugal clutch. There is no connection whatsoever between the engine and the rear wheel unless the engine is already running and revving fast enough to engage the clutch. Rolling the scooter will just spin the clutch bell, not the clutch's innards... and you've got to spin the innards to engage the clutch.

If there is too much moisture at the end of the fuel line, rolling it can get some more fuel into what now may be a water-fuel mix. It is easier than rocking the bike from side to side, and more effective if you roll a way down hill with a few bumps. There is generally not so much moisture that stirring the liquid around won't pull some away momentarily and let more gas into the mix; water isn't that much heavier than fuel. Draining the tank is even better but this is much less involved and worth a try.

When it starts, it will cough and die a few times emitting alot of white exhaust and run rough until the moisture is steamed out. One can then look forward to stalls at low idle or higher revs depending on how much moisture is present. You can then run half a tank or so before normalcy returns.

That is based on my earlier assumption that it was turning over properly, just not getting ignition. Everyone else read the problem as a bad battery which tend to go hand in hand with water in the lines as most batteries will fail before it turns the engine over sufficient times to blow the moisture through - - especially in colder weather with an engine that hasn't been started in a while. This problem may persist even when a new battery is put in, but I agree with the others that a new battery is likely now called for. And a new one will hopefully be strong enough to blow through what moisture may remain.

The best prevention is to keep your tank full when your weather is getting cold after a warm wet spell.

Sorry, sounds like a bit of a stretch to me to think that rolling a scooter is going to mix more of the contents of the tank into a small-diameter fuel line, even if your theory of condensation in the tank is correct... especially since the fuel tap won't even be open in the absence of vacuum.

I am not sure that holds water

Ok. Will check the fuel also. If it is the battery that's good as it's easily fixed. I just don't like the fear of not knowing what's the matter. 8)

I actually have AA membership. I will get them to come out and charge the battery!

Seems the fuel pump has died. AA will take it to a garage tomorrow which is helpful!

I could see an air bubble in the fuel pipe and the fuel wasn't sucking down in to the engine. The AA mechanic was good and sepnt at least haf-an-hour on the scoot trying to fix it.

That's highly unlikely, as you don't have a fuel pump. More likely the vacuum-operated tap at the bottom of the tank (the fuel is gravity-fed).

Whatever it was the fuel was not coming down the line in to the engine.

A crack in the vacuum line from the intake manifold to the tap -- or a loose connection -- will prevent the tap from opening as it should when the engine is running. The taps themselves have been known to fail as well.

If the tap is not opening, the engine will start on whatever fuel is in the carburetor float bowl, but will die once that small amount is exhausted.

The good news is the tap is about roughly 20 quid (and replacing the vacuum line even cheaper). If you had a fuel pump it would be around 250 pounds (converting from US pricing). Have them replace the fuel line at the same time.

You should be thinking about buying a battery tender if you're leaving the scooter for weeks at a time. It's the 'stitch in time saves nine' wise decision.

I have to rant. I'm waiting for the bastard truck to come and take the vespa to the garage. I hope they don't send a bug eyesore truck. I think I'll get a service done while I'm at it.

I hate waiting. That's why I bought a scoot

Haven't you got a kickstarter on there?

Yeah. The AA guy tried the kickstarter but that didn't get it going either.

Oh lord! The shame, the shame!

Not only is the fuel tap stuffed, I was informed both tyres are bald the exhaust is stuffed, and it could do with a tinker elsehwre, and a new air filter

I have budgeted £120. I doubt that will be enough. I have been a bad owner

no way will £120 be enough to sort out new tyres, exhaust, fuel tap, and air filter .... but hang on, why do you need a new air filter? what's wrong with cleaning the old one? and could you be more specific about 'a tinker elsewhere'?

not to create panic or anything, but how long have you been going to this garage? do you trust them? i hope i'm wrong but that sounds like the kind of shopping list rolled out by a garage that's out to make a buck off an unsuspecting owner. can you at least post a pic or two of your tyres so we can see if they really are bald?

It's at the mechanic and that's where it will stay until next week. I am happy to pay for the tyres and the fuel tap, but the exhaust and air filter (whatever) I am happy to leave and have someone else look at.

I have only been there a few times. Do I trust them? I suppose. I get the impression they think I have money

um, that's not really a good thing.... if you want, and if he's within a reasonable distance from you, i'll hook you up with my mechanic. he's extremely competent, totally trustworthy, and very handy to know if you're maintaining a scooter on a budget.

What I plan to do is to ask the mechanics to get he bike running and I'll pay for that, and maybe tyres, then take it someplace else. The mechanic is close to where I live which is why I took it there. I have kind of accepted that it will cost me a bit. I will pay up to £150 for any repairs. I think that is reasonable. Yes the scoot is a bit 'loud' when it runs, but I don't care and can live with it.

Well I am getting a new fuel tap, rear tyre, and some exhaust welding for approx £200. I will save the front tyre for later and will have a good look at it before. Seems overkill that both need changing at the same time as they were both replaced at the same time about 6 months ago. I have riden the scoot a lot so the rear tyre seems reasonable, and it will give me peace of mind too.

It is strange that both tyres are worn out in 6 months. If true, it's probably down to improper tyre pressures- perhaps the front had a slow leak?

What mileage is on those tyres?

i'm with Harvey - that is way to soon to be replacing a tyre on a scooter that's only used for commuting - unless, as he says, the tyre pressures were not checked and adjusted regularly. assuming they were properly fitted, it's not likely that both had a slow leak.

if you don't already have one, it would be a good idea for you to buy a pressure gauge and a foot pump. check your tyre pressures at least twice a month - once a week is better.

if you could get a picture of the old tyres, we could probably tell you if a) they're knackered early due to improper inflation, or b) your mechanic is doing work that isn't strictly necessary.

Right. The vespa is still at the mechanic. They said last week they would ring when it was ready. They haven't rung me and I haven't rung them since last Tuesday. I think they have been hanging on to it because with the ice on the roads up here in Nth London it would be difficult to ride home. I am happy for them to hang on to it until the thaw.

Question: if I leave it at the mechanic too long (so far it has been a week) can they claim ownership or anything?

Also, I am really frightened about picking the scoot up and riding it home. the streets where I am are still very icey and slushy. If I have to pick it up I am considering just tying it up in a street near the shop and coming back for it later. The thought of having to get the vespa home is making me anxious. I have TEH FEARZ you see.

Put your heftiest boots on and ride slowly as you can with both feet not far from the ground - seemed to work for a girl I saw this morning riding on practically a sheet of ice...my hero(ine)!

Should I ring them and ask how the repairs are going, or just wait for their call? I am happy to wait and they did say they'd call. It is spinning round in my head

If it's bugging you, then yes, ring them You can ask the question without sounding like a pest, if that's what's concerning you

give 'em a ring just to ease your mind, and remind them that you're waiting, but if you're worried about riding the scooter home until the roads are properly clear (and i don't blame you at all, my scooter isn't going anywhere until i can get it to the end of my street without fear of slipping) then you might let them know that you're not in a tearing hurry to have it back. Claiming ownership of an 'abandoned' scooter is a complicated process, it's much easier for them to ring you and get you to pick it up, so no need to worry about losing it

I saw some nutjob doing this in Aberdeen just after Christmas. Got out onto a salted bit and disappeared over the horizon. I was jealous.

These people deserve medals. 8)

I've been itching for a little scooter ride...but not that much! Heroes, one and all.

Mind you, if the scoot was my only transport, then I'd be out there too. I'd rather be dressed like the Michelin man (but still freezing cold), wet, miserable, stressed and bruised from falling off, than spend 10 seconds on a bus

i've learned the hard way that one of the consequences of getting a fabulous custom paint job is that you're very very reluctant to take the scooter out if there's even the slightest chance of dumping it.

i need a knackered ET4 for days like these

I'm too 'scared' to ring. Will leave til Thursday afternoon as hopefully the roads will be sorted by then and I will feel safe picking it up Friday or Saturday.

I am more worried about injury to myself if I come off the scooter. I have the fear now and it's hard to shake.

Damnation! It has started snowing again

If the garage insist of me collecting the scoot I may ask them to deliver it.

*bump*

Ok, got my Vespa back this morning. I don't plan to ride it for a fortnight. Is there anything I should do to 'protect' it from the weather we have been experiencing in London? It will be parked on the street with a nylon cover over it. is there a way of covering it to reduce chance of wqater getting in anywhere important? Also, should I unhook the battery points while it is not in use? Will the battery stay charged better?